Iron County register., 1887-06-30
Mineral Resources OF Iron County.

When we hear of people using the words
which make the heading of this article, it
looks as though we possess piece of terri
tory that was rich In minerals. 1t is well
known that Iron county (whoever originated
the name deserves, credit, for they could not
have selected better one) contains valuable
minerals of nearly every description. We
will see, as we go along, of what value they
are to the people of the county and the peo-
pie at large. / will commence with Pilot
Knob iron mines, and give little of the his
tory of this valuable piece of mining prop
erty. The top of Pilot Knob is 662 feet high.
LIP feet laboye st. Louis, ,521 feet above
tide. In this mountain Is found a stratum
of specular iron ore, varying in thickness
from twenty to four feet. Strike northwest
southeast, dip southwest. 1t was known as
and governed for number of years by the
Pilot Knob Iron Company, with CIV. Craine
as general manager. In 1882 it was consoi-
dated with the Vulcan Steel Works of Caron
delet, and the Grand Tower Coal Mines of
Grand Tower, Ill. At the end of the first
year of Its consolidation, the company found
itself insoyent aud was forced into the hands
of the U. S. Court, and the President, E. A.
Hitchcock, was appointed receiver. The
mines closed IN July, 1888, and great many
people thought they would stand closed for
number of years, at least. To the surprise
of great many, the mines went into opera
tion In November of the same year. The
unsuccessful year was managed by E. A.
Hitchcock, President; j. c. Simpson, Gen.
eral Manager; G. w. Craine, Assistant Su-
perintendent; w. G. Dits, Cashier. The
above gentlemen were the officers of the
company when the receiver was appointed.
AT this time (when the receiver was appoint
ed) the company was owing very large
debt. Now, what did the receiver and his
officers do? Did they try to evade paying
this enormous debt? No; they paid every
debt that was contracted during the previous
year by starting up the mines and giving
employ to over three hundred men, filling
the mouths and clothing many family dur
ing the winter of 1883 and 1884; and at the
close of the year 1886 the company had all
debts paid, and was employing about five
hundred men. Now some one deserves credit
for the success of this enterprise during the
term of the receivcrship. That credit is due
to the above officers there is no doubt in the
and all of his foremen, are entitled to some
credit, and even the workmen are entitled to
their share of credit for the faithful work
they performed during that time. The ben
etits derived from the resources of this mine
are benefit to the people of the county and
to the State at large.
LEAD MINING.
Lead has been discovered in many locali-
ties in the county, and some prospecting has
been done in this direction. Lead is being
found on Marble Greek, Big Greek and on
the waters of Black River, but very little
mining has been done in any of the localities
except at Des Arc, where some mining has
been done with fair results.
SILVER ORES
occur in quartz, which is found in regular
veins cutting through the granite and por-
phyry rock. Very little mining has been
done in this county towards the development
of these ores. These veins contain silver,
lead, copper, &C., and are from few inches
up 20 ten feet wide, running northeast and
southwest and nearly vertical. This class of
mining will, in the near future, draw capital
towards its development, and will be source
of income to the county and its interests.
COPPER
is found in veins and deposits. Butvery lit
tie mining has been done towards its devel-
opment. Copper has been known TO exist
south and west of Ironton for number OF
years. The land is principally owned by
non on-residents and very little attention has
been paid toward its development. The at
tention Of mining capitalist having been